"Sir," Harry reminded his uncle nervously. "I've only got one paycheck. I don't have funds to get my supplies right now."

"Don't worry about it."

Harry couldn't help but worry about it though.

"Sir, when we go into the shops and they're getting their supplies, what do I do when they ask why I'm not getting mine?"

Vernon looked at him as they sat parked out in front of the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for the Harris' to arrive. "How would it look to my boss if I didn't buy all of my nephew's supplies?"

"I- don't know sir." He did know, but he didn't want to say. He'd grown so used to them not buying anything he needed that he rarely thought about it.

"Get what you need today and pay me back at the end of the summer."

Harry turned to stare out the window. "Yes sir." His uncle had been so different lately in regards to him that it had been shocking. He couldn't let himself forget though that his uncle wasn't actually different. It was all an act, or somehow in his own self interest. Harry just needed to get himself and the Harris' through the day, and make sure he didn't anger his uncle in the process.

"Sir, we have to exchange any money you have at the bank."

"I expected we would."

"It's run by goblins."

His uncle turned to him just as the Harris' pulled up in front of them in their car and parked. "Goblins?"

"As a general rule, if you see anyone that looks different somehow, they'll find it rude if you stare or say anything about it at all. They all have wands, or if they don't they can do magic with a snap of their fingers or wave of their hands."

Vernon snorted. "That's helpful." Then he stared at Harry for a moment. "I had no idea you were this helpful boy." He got out of the car and greeted his boss like they were old friends, and Harry got out as well. He almost laughed as his uncle relayed the information Harry had just given him as if he'd been to Diagon Alley a thousand times himself, and William and his wife hung on his every word.

"Uh," Harry said, waiting for his chance to speak. "There's just one more thing." He was nervous about what he had to say and how they'd perceive it, but saw that he had their attention nonetheless. Feeling put on the spot again he said quickly, "If we get stopped by people... I mean, if I get stopped by people, try to just keep walking. Unless it's a friend, then I'll let you know."

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Harris asked.

Harry's cheeks tinged red. How did he say this without them thinking he had a big head? ‘I'm somewhat of a big deal' just didn't sound like it would go over well. "It's a bit hard to explain. It's nothing bad, I'm just, going to get stopped by people a lot. It's best if we keep going when possible."

William seemed to take him at his word, gave a nod, and motioned for Harry to lead them into the Leaky Cauldron, which they still couldn't see. He heard them gasp when the door suddenly appeared for them as soon as Harry had opened it.

Harry kept his head down and tried to pass through quietly, but Tom called out to him. "Mr. Potter, you're in earlier than usual. Don't normally see you around until the end of summer!"

Harry glanced up and gave him a wave. "Yes sir," he said, trying to hurry through to the back door as fast as he could now, aware that he'd caught the attention of the twelve or so guests there having breakfast or tea. "I came to show some friends to the wand shop."

People started to murmur, but Harry had rushed them all outside again and to the brick wall. He showed Arla the pattern and which bricks to touch and how to recognize them, and watched with satisfaction as she and her parents (and uncle Vernon) gasped again at the brick wall as it morphed into an arch and opened up onto Diagon Alley. The alley wasn't terribly busy yet, and Harry was thankful.

"We need to go to Gringotts first to exchange money," he explained, and led them to the towering white goblin bank. They made it through the exchange of money without incident, and Harry was surprised to see that his uncle had actually brought a thousand pounds. He examined the odd coins he'd been handed in return as the Harris' exchanged their money.

Back out on the Alley Harry led them to Ollivander's first. Ollivander ignored the others at first in favor of asking Harry how his wand was performing. He seemed particularly interested in his latest exchange with Voldemort and how their wands had reacted.

"Did you see something interesting in your last exchange with You-Know-Who?" Ollivander asked after examining Harry's wand.

"Sir?"

"Ghosts Mr. Potter. Of your parents perhaps?"

Harry looked down.

"I see," Ollivander said. "You are one of so few I have known to own brother wands. As it so happens, most brother wands end up being used by enemies. Unintended Priori Incantatem is primarily documented during these duels alone."

"Yes sir."

"If it happens too many times, the wands may shatter. Yours seems to be fine after this one encounter however."

He handed Harry's wand back to him, and Harry put it in his back pocket. Ollivander finally turned his attention to his new customers, and spent thirty minutes finding just the right wand for Arla.

Back outside Harry was glad to be out of the oppressive feeling little shop and into fresh air, though that feeling was short lived when people murmured his name as they walked by and headed for the robe shop.

Harry was fitted with robes on a stool next to Arla as she was fitted for hers. Neville Longbottom and his gran came in halfway through the fitting.

"There you are Harry," Neville said. "People are murmuring up and down the alley about Harry Potter so I figured you were here somewhere."

"I'm sorry to hear about your experience at the end of the year Harry," Neville's gran said. It was the first time he'd ever met her, though he'd heard a lot about her over the years from Neville. "I'm relieved you're well though. I can't imagine what the Diggory's are going through." She saw how Harry's face paled as she said it though and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me to say."

"S'ok," Harry mumbled. Madam Malkin finished fitting him for robes first, and he excused himself, wanting some fresh air outside while Neville started getting fitted for his robes and while Arla finished with hers. As the door closed as he went back out onto the Alley, he heard William ask, "What happened at the end of the year?"

He wasn't sure if she had told them or not, because they didn't say anything to Harry once they came out with Arla's robes, but they were quiet as they got potions kits and cauldrons and as Harry got owl treats for Hedwig while Arla begged her parents for an owl and a cat both.

A few people tried to stop Harry in the alley on the way to Flourish And Blotts to shake his hand or express regret in what had happened at the end of the school year with the tournament, but Harry said little more than what he needed to in order to keep them moving down the alley.

He let Arla's parents look through the bookstore on their own as he got his books, and his uncle had disappeared to somewhere, so Harry had a few moments to himself. Flourish and Blotts was quiet and reminded him of the library. This summer he had really come to appreciate Hermione's love for the school library, because the library in Little Whinging had become a safe space for him where he was welcome. It was quiet, and dark, and cool, and the librarian was nice. In the midst of the chaos that was Diagonalley, Flourish and Blotts was a welcome refuge, even if only a momentary one. That refuge was just an illusion it seemed however, that was broken by the sound of Snape's low voice.

"Eating up the attention Potter?"

Harry closed his eyes and questioned silently why he had to run into Snape here, of all places, and at all times. It had been a trying day and the last thing he needed was to be yelled at and ridiculed by Snape.

He turned slowly and questioned, "Sir?" He didn't know why he bothered. He knew Snape would follow up one put down with another.

"All I've heard since I've stepped onto the alley this morning was about the ‘Great Harry Potter' and his friends."

"I'm just trying to get my school supplies sir."

"Harry! Look! I found it!" Arla chose that moment to come bounding up to him with a copy of Hogwarts A History. "I'm gonna memorize it just like you said!" She skipped off without another word to go back to her parents.

"Indoctrinating them young I see," Snape sneered. "You couldn't even wait until she got to Hogwarts to enroll her in your fan club of little sycophants?"

Uncle Vernon had also chosen this moment to reappear. "Got your books Harry?" It was odd to have him calling him by his first name, but the Harris' were just in the next aisle over, and Harry didn't expect him to start calling him boy again until they were in the car and well on their way back to Little Whinging.

"Yes uncle Vernon."

"Who is this?" his uncle gruffed. He'd been gruffing at people when they tried to stop them in the alley, seeming to take Harry's words to heart about continuing on and not wasting time.

"This is Professor Snape, the Potions Master at school. He's the Head of Slytherin house."

Uncle Vernon's demeanor changed instantly. "Could you answer a question for me then Professor?" He didn't give Snape a chance to say no or to walk away and followed up with, "How does one go about getting an apprenticeship?"

"That would depend on the type of apprenticeship." Snape's lip curled at Vernon and his question, though Harry didn't know why. Maybe it was just because he was associated with Harry. If only Snape knew how much his uncle hated him, then maybe they could start a ‘we hate Harry' club. He almost laughed at the thought.

"What about a Potions apprenticeship?"

Snape turned and sneered at Harry. "Surely not Potter," Snape said with distaste. Harry ignored him and kept his eyes on his shoes however.

"Why not?" Vernon asked. "His grades are low in Potions. Wouldn't a Potions apprenticeship help bring his grades up so he could graduate with high marks? He needs high marks to get an apprenticeship with the Ministry of Magic doesn't he?"

"He would need a Potions Master willing to take him on. You would also be giving up your parental rights to him if he started the apprenticeship before he was 17. The Master who took him on would say where he went and what he did. He or she would be in charge of his studies, both during the school year and on holidays. He would likely continue to live with you, but in the end you would have no say over his life, discipline for school infractions, or even medical decisions involving him."

"I understand," Vernon said. "He explained it to me."

"Yet you still wish to have him apprenticed?" Snape seemed skeptical.

"His grade in Potions is low, isn't it? He needs the help." Harry was surprised Snape wasn't seeing right through his uncle's crock of crap. The man just wanted Harry out of the house, but he was spinning it like he cared about Harry's grades or his future. He didn't care about Harry at all.

"What do you have to say about this Potter?"

Harry was surprised Snape was asking him at all.

"Erm... I don't need the help in Potions sir."

Snape snorted. "It's that attitude that earned you the low grade in the first place."

"We just want to know where to start the process," Vernon said.

"I know of no Potions Masters taking on apprentices at this time."

"What about you?" Vernon asked, and Harry choked, drawing Snape's attention and amusement towards him for a brief moment.

"I am not," Snape said, and Harry was relieved, but Vernon was keen on pressing the issue.

"It would make the most sense as you already work at the school. You'd be there to discipline him if he needed it, see to medical decisions since we can't be there with him, and as his teacher you know how much help he needs to get his grade up. He's only got three years left of school and an apprenticeship lasts for what? Two wasn't it?"

"Two if they are under the age of majority, and it will not result in a Potions Mastery."

Harry looked up at the two men, eyes traveling back and forth between them in horror. Snape wasn't considering this, was he?!

"As I said before, I am not in the market for an apprentice. If I hear of anyone who is, I will let them know Mr. Potter is seeking an apprenticeship." He gave Harry's horrified look a look of amusement, and then didn't give Vernon a chance to protest as he swept away and out of the bookstore.

"Well, I tried boy," Vernon said. "You didn't help your case any just standing there with your mouth open."

Harry turned his attention back to his uncle. "I don't envy you if he's your teacher. I can see why you're getting the low grade. Wouldn't hurt to butter him up some over the school year... see if you can't get him to take you as an apprentice. He'd have to give you a good grade if he was in charge of you, or it would look bad on himself. And he'd have to buy your school supplies too. You wouldn't have to work over the summer next year."

Vernon strode off to see if he could hurry William and his family along, as this was their last stop for the day, and Harry stared at his back as he went. He was still trying to spin this like it was in Harry's best interest, but Harry didn't believe a word of it. And his uncle was wrong. An apprenticeship with Snape would be constant work. Harry would never have a moment of peace. It would be worse than all his years at the Dursley's combined.